Thursday, 23 December 2010

As I was walking around the living room this morning, I noticed a few angels that I love and decided to share with you....

Several years ago, I painted this little wooden angel. I had hoped to do a few of them for friends, but as seems to be my norm, I did just one other for my friend, Cheryl, and that was it. I still have the blank wooden ones, so maybe one day I will pick them up again...

(see the "Vintage by Crystal" Snow Bunny? cute!)

Hiding in the bottom of the earlier photo is this little Angel Jewel Box that I designed for Dept 56 years ago. There were two (the one below, too) and I forgot how pretty they are. They are just about inches tall and open up to reveal a secret place....

This little lovely was found at Hidden Treasures, a place here in Santa Fe that has some very delicious treasures - one's trash is another's treasure - no kidding! Could you have passed her up?

Last, but certainly not least, is one of the GLORIOUS angels from Danielle. Unfortunately, she had a small accident on her way across the pond (broken foot) which I mended with some cardboard and gold paint. Now, when she isn't flying around spreading joy, she can dance around in her new dancing slippers. I also sprinkled a little glitter on her wings to help her to feel better.....

Happy Holidays dear Pantry Violets!

I love you all and wish you the Happiest Christmas and All the Best in the New Year!

Sunday, 19 December 2010

Apologies for the delay in blogging on my trip to see Kate and Jamie in Boston!I had the best time! Kate met me at the airport and took me to dinner with her family and then on to Jamie's where I stayed. The next day was very special - organised to coincide with my stay - I was guest of honour at Jamie's book signing in Weston!

Dragon Books in Weston was the venue - a lovely shop :

As we all know a famous author, our very own Jamie, I thought i'd share her book signing which was organised for the Saturday I was in Boston!

Here she is with friends, family and fans!

and there on the far left is our Kate! Three pantry violets in the one spot! The signing went really well and drew a good crowd as you can see:

and here is Jamie's lovely book - her first foray into mixed media in her illustration! Isnt it fabulous !

I'm sure you all remember Jamies printed figures - she worked on them at LSA and finished hem on her return home. The finished figures can be seen on Jamie's blog: jamieharperstudioblog - sorry i dont know how to add a link!Thanks to Jamie and Kate my first day in Boston was fantastic and I have a signed book for my great niece Iris (only 1) but she needs to get a move on and learn to read before she can fully enjoy it - im sure her mummy will read it to her in the meantime!xxdi

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas - and will see you later in the New Year!!! Yahoo. I adore seeing your inspirational pictures and posts, even though I've been relatively quiet myself - have been busy though - check out www.jellis.mosaicglobe.com if you're interested in one little project I've completed. Very Best wishes - Jodie

Tuesday, 7 December 2010

On December 11 (that is this Saturday!) Carol has a birthday. Hope that it is a wonderful one for you, Carol. We wish we were there to help blow out "all those candles" (tee hee)

And, as luck would have it, our other two birthday girls were found in the same photo right next to one another !!! Our dear Julie Australia (xo) will celebrate on the 18th and Miss Kate gets a party right after Christmas on the 29th. That explains a lot about your jolly nature, my friend!

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Here is the view from the bedroom where Mom and I stayed in Sausalito the night before her hand surgery. We stayed with our friends, Ronzie and Keith (he is Mom's doctor) and what a spectacular place it is. Ronzie has an amazing eye for extraordinary things and, as you can see, they also have an amazing view of San Francisco Bay (whew!)

Above is Mom petting Zoe, the wonderful Standard Poodle who has adopted Ronzie and Keith as parents. She is a super-cool dog

Below, Mom and Ronzie just as we were about to leave.We really had a wonderful time and thank Ronzie for the incredible hospitality she showed us.

We felt like princesses all cozied up under the comforters......and, man! You can't beat that view!

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Sorry that it has taken me 5 months to post something.......life and travels have gotten in the way! Plus, I had to find my written instructions on how to post something and then actually DO IT!!!!!!!! My extended family is enroute to Tucson, Arizona to share Thanksgiving dinner and then celebrate my Mom's 90th birthday....WhoooHooo! Quite an accomplishment this day in age!

I bought this raw silk fabric on a recent trip to NYC and decided to make a Julie Arkell inspired "puff flower" broach for my Mom's gift. It took forever and I learned a few tricks along the way, but I know she will be thrilled! My biggest challenge was to not bleed all over the fabric.....with winter definitely here in Colorado and the heat turned on, my hands are all dry and cracked...... not ideal conditions for hand sewing!!!!! I also found some great Liberty fabric in Danielle's "miserable colors" which I hope to make more puff flower broaches from......get ready for an onslaught from me after laying dormant for a bit!!!!! LOVE to all- Oolie

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Made from felt this time; the belly of the bird and some of the feathers taken from a small scrap of needle felt I made in the 'Wild Women' workshop ages ago - combined with angelina - fusable fibres - for the remaining feathers. A bit of angelina cut 'a la danielle' for the crest together with some crochet cotton and sewing thread - a black felt beak and a couple of vintage bead caps for eyes and 'voila'. Its remarkable what you can make in an evening with the scraps left from other projects - its more satisfying than therapy and a much cheaper alternative! I'm hooked. My sister has machine sewed some bodies for me so my flock is set to increase - be prepared!

Saturday, 6 November 2010

Now, I know you American ladies do not need this recipe, but thought us cookerettes from the other side of the Big Pond might like to get in the mood with this recipe from The Jewels of New York (the young couple who will be leading a cooking workshop for us in April next year). Thought I might substitute Butternut Squash for the Pumpkin.... and leave out the bacon, of course - is that a big mistake?

serves 2

2 pound pumpkin, such as cheese pumpkin

1/4 onion, cut into small dice

1/4 carrot, cut into small dice

1/4 rib celery, cut into small dice

1/4 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and cut into small dice

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

2 bacon strips, cut into lardons

1/3 cup dry white wine

2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock

1 teaspoon dried sage

2 bay leafs

1 tablespoons butter, softened

salt

fresh-ground black pepper

Cut out a lid around the stem-end of the pumpkin and set aside. Scrape out and discard the seeds and strings. Put pumpkin on a baking sheet along with the lid. Rub the pumpkin flesh with butter, salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large oiled pot over moderate heat, add the bacon and cook until crisp and browned. Then add in the onion, carrot, celery, and apple and cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes.

Stir in wine, broth, sage, and bay leafs. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fill the pumpkin with the broth mixture. Roast until flesh is soft when pierced about 30-45 minutes.

To serve, top pumpkin with the lid. As you serve scrape the flesh from the sides into the broth and ladling it into bowls.

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

What a fine Saturday Danielle and I had soldering on her kitchen table!

Here are Danielle's first little pieces:

Once Danielle had mastered the basics we moved right along to dobbers which are technically more challenging being circular! Here are the results:

A little Becassine and a family photo combination :

and then a celebration of brides from Danielle's family photo collection:

Finally, we had a joint effort for Danielle's lovely daughter Francesca - made from a fabulous biscuit wrapper from Florence which Danielle had stashed away - too beautiful to stay in a box - I prepared a large and a small dobber to frame the best bits and Danielle soldered it - how fab is that!

After soldering our socks off Saturday, Sunday was the time for a bit of R&R. Danielle took me to Petersham Nurseries where they have lovely plant and lots of designerly gifty stuff which is a joy to behold:

As well as lovely, lovely flowers and some ornamental cabbages - Danielle has some of each in her garden!After an excellent Sunday Lunch with the family it was time to pack up my car and head home again. Next time we are going on a shopping trip round London so there will be no holding us back from bagging a bargain! Thanks to Danielle, Nick, Francesca, Christian and Finlay for a fabulous weekend!

About Us

"Pantry Violets" are women who met by chance in the Dordogne in France. We came from many different places and walks of life with as many different experiences - each of us knowing that for some reason we needed to be there. Through the course of 6 days, we swam in a salt water pool, ate magnificent food prepared by our hosts, strolled the beautiful grounds, stitched as it drizzled and danced in the sun, rummaged through brocantes, shared stories and ideas, secrets and dreams. We found friendship, inspiration, laughter, tears, simplicity, peace and a strong common bond. We embraced the creative spirit we found in one another and allowed our own to soar. It came to be much more than a workshop. We found new "life long" friends and true, kindred spirits.

We have created this blog to challenge and inspire one another and to continue to look at life and creativity in a whole new way, from a different perspective. We will continue to share our thoughts and feelings and bring our affection for each other to this venue.

Our enduring thanks to Julie Arkell for bringing us together for the little "slice of heaven" we experienced and for her enthusiasm in our creations. We are beyond grateful for her generosity and her willingness to share her knowledge, imagination and graceful spirit.

We also thank Katie, Mike, Carol and Dave for absolutely everything they did for us and for the beauty they live with each day that they so easily shared with us.